born Aug. 4, 1920, Winchester, Ky., U.S.
U.S. journalist.
Born to Lebanese immigrant parents, she grew up in Detroit and joined the UPI news agency in Washington, D.C., in 1943. A pioneer in overcoming the limitations on women in the news media, she became known for her bold and tireless pursuit of information. Assigned to the White House in 1961, she became UPI bureau chief there in 1974. She is best known as the reporter traditionally first recognized at presidential press conferences.